A factory finish on wood millwork sets the colour and sheen the designer chose and protects the wood from hands, cleaners, water and wear. Finishes vary widely in how much abuse they take and how easily they can be Read more
Office Kitchenette and Pantry Millwork: What to Plan and Specify
The office kitchenette is one of the most heavily used pieces of millwork in a workplace. It gets wet every day, holds appliances that produce heat and steam, carries the weight of dishes and supplies, and is used by Read more
Wood Slat Walls and Ceilings: Acoustics, Fire Ratings and Detailing
Wood slat walls and ceilings are common in offices, lobbies, restaurants and stores: they add warmth, hide services and, with the right backing, absorb sound. They are also among the most code-sensitive pieces of millwork, because they are large Read more
Long-Term Care Home Millwork in Ontario: What the Design Manual Requires
A long-term care home is a health care setting that residents live in, often for years. Its millwork has to feel like home, stand up to daily cleaning and mobility equipment, and keep medications, chemicals and records secure. In Read more
Retail Fitting Room Design: Layout, Fixtures, Lighting and Accessibility
For apparel stores, the fitting room is often where the decision to buy is made, and a cramped, badly lit or worn fitting room works against it. Fitting rooms are also some of the hardest-used fixtures in a store, Read more
Countertop Overhangs and Supports: Solid Surface, Quartz and Laminate
Overhangs are common in commercial millwork: transaction ledges on cash wraps and reception desks, seating overhangs on islands and bar counters, and cantilevered tops in clinics and offices. Without the right support, tops can crack, sag or break at Read more
Cabinet Hardware for Commercial Millwork: Hinges, Slides, Locks and Pulls
Under-specified hardware causes some of the most common millwork complaints: doors that sag, drawers that will not close under load, locks that do not fit the owner’s key system. Hardware is also a common target for substitution, because product Read more
High-Pressure Laminate Grades for Millwork: Horizontal, Vertical, Postforming and Compact
High-pressure laminate (HPL) is the default surface for commercial casework, store fixtures, reception desks and work surfaces. It comes in several grades that differ in thickness and purpose, and a vertical grade used on a countertop, or a standard Read more
Site Conditions for Millwork Installation: Humidity, Temperature and Timing
Many of the problems blamed on millwork after installation start with the building, not the shop. Gaps at mitres, doors that stop closing flush, panels that cup and countertops that lift at a seam usually trace back to the Read more
Field Measuring for Millwork: When to Measure and What to Check
Architectural drawings show the design intent, but walls are never exactly where the drawings put them. Studs bow, corners are out of square, floors slope and columns get furred out wider than planned. Custom millwork is built to fit, Read more